A day before the writ drops on the provincial election, the former B.C. United candidate for Kelowna-Centre has declared he will run as an unaffiliated, independent.
Dr. Michael Humer has been left out in the cold, along with dozens of other candidates and MLAs, since Aug. 28, after leader Kevin Falcon, alongside B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad announced he was suspending the party害羞草研究所檚 campaign.
Humer made his announcement at a news conference on Sept. 20, with former B.C. United hopefuls Stephen Johnston and Ashley Ramsay. Johnston was the former candidate for West Kelowna-Peachland and Ramsay was the former candidate for Kelowna-Mission. Both have declared that they are also running as independents.
In referencing Falcon害羞草研究所檚 actions, Humer recalled comment following Canada's attempt to bring home its constitution in the early 1980s.
害羞草研究所淚 called it the afternoon of the big fork,害羞草研究所� Humer said. "We got forked by Kevin.害羞草研究所�
Falcon and Rustad had promised a riding-by-riding vetting of United and Conservative candidates to determine the best individual to run in the election.
害羞草研究所淯nderstanding that it would be an opportunity to rebuild the coalition, bring the centre and right together in an authentic way to form a government to defeat the NDP,害羞草研究所� Humer added.
As the days ticked by there was no communication from either party. Despite repeated calls, emails and text messages neither Humer, Johnston nor Ramsay received a call that they were chosen to represent their communities.
Humer declared the B.C. United candidate in February, said he was willing and encouraged to join the Conservatives if they called.
害羞草研究所淏ut when it was obvious the fix was in, there was no ability or asking to bring everyone together and get some best alternative. I felt increasingly uncomfortable with that decision and knew that the courageous thing was to say B.C. deserves better so that害羞草研究所檚 why I got back in.害羞草研究所�
Humer explained why he waited until today to announce why he is running as an independent.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 terrified that on Monday the NDP is going to say, 害羞草研究所淗ere is all the garbage on these conservative candidates you don害羞草研究所檛 have any choice, so sign us up for another four years'.害羞草研究所�
He added that neither David Eby nor Rustad have shown they can or should govern the province, given what he called their extreme ideologies.
害羞草研究所淲hat a beautiful time for the independent candidate, and the ideology they represent, which is what the people tell them in the ridings.害羞草研究所�
According to Humer害羞草研究所檚 campaign team, there are 15 declared independent candidates running in the Oct. 19 election.
害羞草研究所淭his is a growing movement of giving voice back to the individual and to the voter,害羞草研究所� Humer said. 害羞草研究所淪o this is the option, basically this is the reset election.害羞草研究所�
Humer was also asked about potential vote splitting.
害羞草研究所淵ou disqualify the intelligence of the individual voter at the door that says you know what this is madness害羞草研究所nd we害羞草研究所檙e going to stand up and say it must be done better.害羞草研究所�
Humer stressed that he, Johnston and Ramsay are not running as a slate of Okanagan candidates, but they support each other.
害羞草研究所淲e not trying to create a new party on the fly,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淲e have to give them (voters) back hope, and we have to figure out about affordability, cost of living, public safety and healthcare.害羞草研究所�
According to the Legislative Assembly of B.C. website, nine independent members have been elected MLAs. The first was Mary Ellen Smith in 1918. The most recent was Vicki Huntington, elected in 2009 and 2013. Before that, James Mowat was elected in 1949.
